Spaceship type toy

Abstract

A spaceship type toy is disclosed employing a lower base assembly, a duct, and a generally spherical toy space capsule closely received by the tube. A fan assembly within the base provides air pressure to the lower portion of the duct which, when sufficiently great, causes the toy capsule to translate within the tube, thus simulating space travel over a limited distance. By providing an adjustable electrical power supply to the fan assembly, the position of the capsule within the tube can be controlled by the user. In accordance with another feature of this invention, within the capsule is a seat which supports a toy astronaut figure. This seat can be rotated between two positions, which causes an electrical switching action upon a visual display within the spacecraft. The toy astronaut figure chair is further movable to expose a battery compartment within the spacecraft. Additional embodiments of this invention include a modified tube structure enabling a pair of base and fan assemblies to be connected at each end, thereby providing control over the movement of the capsule from one point to another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A spherical toy space capsule comprising an upper spherical portion,   a lower spherical portion engaging said upper spherical portion,   a toy seat structure disposed within said lower spherical portion and hinged for limited rotation between first and second positions,   battery means disposed within said lower spherical portion,   visual display means disposed within said lower spherical portion, said visual display means energizable by said battery means, and   switch means operatively associated with said toy seat structure such that said switch changes from a closed to an open state when said toy seat structure is moved from said first to said second positions, thereby controllably energizing said visual display means.   
     
     
       2. A toy space capsule according to claim 1 further comprising a battery compartment formed by said lower spherical portion, said toy seat structure further movable to a third position which permits access to said battery compartment. 
     
     
       3. A toy space capsule according to claim 1 wherein said upper spherical portion is a substantially transparent shell. 
     
     
       4. The spherical toy space capsule according to claim 1 further comprising an elongated tube closely receiving said toy space capsule, and fan means supplying air pressure at one end of said tube, said air pressure acting upon said capusle such that said capsule is translatable within said tube.   
     
     
       5. The spherical toy space capsule according to claim 4 further comprising said fan means being controllably energized thereby permitting modulation of said air pressure acting upon said capsule. 
     
     
       6. The spherical toy space capsule according to claim 5 wherein said tube is curved to form two ends adjacent substantially vertical sections, and a second base connected to one of said tube ends, said second base including a second fan means installed therein. 
     
     
       7. The spherical toy space capsule according to claim 4 further comprising a battery compartment formed by said lower spherical portion, said toy seat structure further movable to a third position which permits access to said battery compartment. 
     
     
       8. The spherical toy space capsule according to claim 1 further comprising an elongated tube closely receiving said toy spacecraft having two opened ends, and a pair of fan means supplying air pressure to said tube ends, said air pressure acting upon said toy spacecraft such that said toy spacecraft is translatable within said tube.   
     
     
       9. A spaceship type toy comprising, in combination: a space capsule including an upper spherical portion, a lower spherical portion engaging said upper spherical portion, a toy seat structure disposed within said lower spherical portion and hinged for limited rotation between first and second positions, battery means disposed within said lower spherical portion, visual display means disposed within said lower spherical portion, said visual display means energizable by said battery means, and switch means operatively associated with said toy seat structure such that said switch changes from a closed to an open state when said toy seat structure is moved from said first to said second positions, thereby controllably energizing said visual display means,   an elongated tube oriented substantially vertically, said tube closely receiving said capsule,   a base supporting said tube,   a fan duct installed within said base and communicating with the vertically lower end of said tube, and   fan means installed within said fan duct, said fan means supplying air pressure to said tube such that said capsule is translatable within said tube.   
     
     
       10. A spaceship type toy comprising, in combination: a space capsule including an upper spherical portion, and a lower spherical portion engaging said upper spherical portion,   an elongated tube oriented substantially vertically, said tube closely receiving said capsule and having an upper opened end, defined by a perimenter edge lying substantially along a horizontal plane   a base supporting said tube,   a fan duct installed within said base and communicating with the vertically lower end of said tube, and   fan means installed within said fan duct, said fan means supplying air pressure to said tube such that said capsule may be translated within said tube to said upper end of said tube such that a portion of said capsule extends above said perimeter edge, while a remaining portion of said capsule remains within said tube.